Siddig Joins Primeval

Aside from knowing that Primeval is still on track for a 2011 return (the new 13-episode bloc is being filmed as we speak in Ireland), the announcement that a familiar sci-fi name has signed on to the series adds an extra smidgen of reassurance: sometimes series that go on hiatus return on the cheap, particularly if they've had funding troubles, but a well-known cast addition suggests otherwise.

In this case it's Alexander Siddig, star of Deep Space 9 and seen recently in the relatively minor role of Hermes in Clash of the Titans and as a fairly unmemorable villain, Kanen, in a season 1 episode of Merlin. Alexander will play the new boss, charismatic scientist Philip Burton.

The returning regulars are Hannah Spearritt (Abby), Ben Miller (Sir James Lester), Andrew Lee-Potts (Connor), and Ben Mansfield (Captain Becker). The new field team leader is Irish actor Ciarán McMenamin (as a zoologist named Matt, who has "with an uncanny ability to understand animals"), little-known here but a veteran of several series. Also joining the regular cast is Ruth Kearney, playing Jess, the highly efficient manager of operations at the Arc. James Bradshaw, who appeared in the first season as Duncan, one of Connor's friends at college, also returns.

The high concept behind the new episodes involves the British government losing faith in Lester's ability to run the operation on his own. The anomaly operation is now a public/private partnership, part-owned by the government, and partly by Burton.

The series returns to ITV in Britain for two new seasons in 2011 for 7 and 6 episodes respectively. No official word on how they will be ported stateside, but previous seasons of Primeval have appeared on both Syfy and BBC America.

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